MIIS Receives $2.1 Million Gift to Support Language Scholarships

Arabic students in the Institute’s Summer Intensive Language Program are among the many potential beneficiaries of the new $2.1 scholarship funds designated to support the acquisition and enhancement of language ability.

May 16, 2014

The Monterey Institute announced on May 16 that it has received a $2.1 million donation to support student scholarships for the acquisition and enhancement of foreign language ability. The Institute is a graduate school of Middlebury College.

The donor, who asked to remain anonymous, directed that the gift create two endowed scholarship funds, one to honor former Monterey Institute president Clara Yu and her husband, John Deppman, and the other to honor the current president, Sunder Ramaswamy, and his wife, Varna Ramaswamy.

The $2.1 million gift to the Monterey Institute came as part of a $4.2 gift to Middlebury. The other $2.1 million will establish the endowed Jessica K. and Ronald D. Liebowitz Centennial Fellowships Fund to provide financial aid to students attending Middlebury’s summer Language Schools in Vermont and at Mills College in Oakland, CA. That fund honors Middlebury President Ron Liebowitz and his wife, Jessica, and recognizes the Centennial of the Language Schools in 2015.

“We are deeply indebted to this family for its generous support of Middlebury and the Monterey Institute,” said Liebowitz. “Their commitment to providing access to Middlebury’s renowned language programs will make it possible for hundreds of students from around the world to study at these premier institutions.”

“I am overwhelmed and humbled by this donor’s generosity,” added President Ramaswamy. “This gift will truly make a difference in the lives of hundreds of students, sending ripple upon ripple of positive change out into the world in the years ahead.”